Brief:

T' MRS-Vega is part o' Q Modeling's Mega Retro Series. Aye aye! T' series comprises upscale semi-clones o' some classic designs, matey, arrr, that also includes t' Mars Snooper, matey, NikeX & WACC. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I say semi-clones, matey, because t' kits have been rescaled and designed from scratch usin' new parts and t' latest techniques. T' Vega is described as an upscale o' t' original Estes Starship Vega, me bucko, rather than a clone o' t' larger, and later, Estes Super Vega, arrr, and builds t' an impressive 820mm tall rocket. Begad!

I was supplied with this kit by Deepsky Rocket Shop, on t' proviso that I write a review for their spankin' new web site, an offer which I found far too good t' refuse. Avast! If you haven't checked out Deepsky's new web site yet, I strongly suggest you do. Blimey! It nay only has a large range o' kits and materials, but also tips, recommendations, customer reviews and a great online ordering system.

Construction:

T' kit includes:-

• 1 x Main Nose cone - cast resin
• 1 x Main Nose Cone Plug - laser cut basswood
• 1 x Eye Hook
• 1 x Main Body Tube
• 3 x Upper Fins - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Primary Fins - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Secondary Fins- laser cut balsa
• 2 x Launch Lugs - these must be cut from a single piece
• 1 x Engine Hook
• 1 x Motor Mount - foil lined
• 1 x Rear Centrin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 1 x Thrust Rin'
• 4 x Hex Rings - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Support Brace - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Fin Brace - laser cut balsa
• 1 x Forward Centerin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Pad - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Centerin' Pad - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Tube
• 3 x Landin' Gear Shaft - need t' be cut from a single length o' dowel
• 9 x Landin' Gear Centerin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 16 x Water-Slide Decals
• 1 x Stick-On Decal
• 1 x Snap Swivel
• 1 x Heat Shield - Nomex
• 1 x Parachute - pre assembled nylon
• 1 x Shock Cord - Keelhaul®©™
• 1 x Small Spider

Yes, ya bilge rat, that's right, a spider. It be dead when I opened t' bag, but had been very much alive when I first received t' kit. I was quite relieved when I found it dead, since I didn't know whether it had jumped aboard at Deepsky or Q Modeling, matey, and I'm nay sure what kinds o' spiders they have in California!

T' 18 page instruction manual for this kit is o' t' highest quality. T' build is broken down into major sections, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Nose Cone Preparation, arrr, Engine Mount Assembly & Installation, arrr, ya bilge rat, Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, Final Assembly, matey, Makin' a D-Engine Spacer, and Finishing. Each section has an estimated time for completion, though I can't comment on their accuracy, shiver me timbers, as I was simultaneously workin' in had two or three kits. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Each major section is further broken down into a number o' steps. Well, blow me down! Begad! For each of these steps, thar be a detailed diagram and textual description. Begad! I dare say that you could build exclusively from either t' pictures or text alone! There is even a comprehensive pre-launch check list. Begad! T' instruction manual is labelled Version 7, so it looks like Q Modelin' issue revisions from time to time. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' t' latest version o' t' instructions is available for download, shiver me timbers, in Adobe Portable Document Format, from t' Q Modelin' web site, shiver me timbers, so it's worth checkin' t' see if thar have been any updates, me hearties, before you begin. Nose Cone Preparation

As previously mentioned, ya bilge rat, t' nose cones appear t' be cast from some kind of resin. Blimey! There are a few mould lines but, me bucko, bein' resin, they are very easy t' sand out. Begad! There is a little excess resin on t' shoulder o' t' cones, shiver me timbers, left over from t' casting. Well, blow me down! T' instructions suggest removin' this excess with a modeling knife or razor saw, but it's quite thick and I found it easier t' accomplish with a razor saw. Ahoy!

Engine Mount Assembly & Installation

Initially I be puzzled by t' motor mount, as it seemed unnecessarily elaborate. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It was only really when I came t' build it that I realized it be an innovative solution t' t' perennial problem o' fin alignment. Arrr! Blimey! T' result is an interlockin' construction formin' rigid slots into which t' fins may be inserted. T' rigidity and alignment o' these slots ensure perfectly-aligned fins every time. Well, blow me down! Blimey! A triumph o' design and laser cutting! Blimey!

Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly

For me, ya bilge rat, this be t' most interestin' part o' t' build, t' spring-loaded feet are really cool. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Given t' attention t' detail shown in t' rest o' the parts, me hearties, it's strange that t' three landin' gear shafts are provided as a single piece that must be cut t'

length. Avast! I'm nay really complainin' though, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it would feel odd t' build the whole kit and nay t' have t' cut somethin' out!

You have t' be a bit careful with t' assembly o' t' landin' gear. Well, me bucko, blow me down! It's important that t' glue doesn't stray onto t' movin' parts, me hearties, me bucko, me bucko, otherwise t' Vega would be in for some hard landings! As always though, shiver me timbers, t' instructions are very clear and straightforward, so no-one should have any trouble. Ya scallywag!

There are only really two additions I would make t' t' instructions. The first is t' suggest fillin' t' gaps around t' landin' gear nose cones with light weight filler, matey, rather then t' suggested wood glue. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' wood glue shrinks as it dries and doesn't really do a good job o' fillin' what is quite a deep gap. Well, blow me down!

T' other suggestion I would make is t' paint the landin' gear shafts before assembly. Well, blow me down! T' reason bein' that t' additional thickness o' t' paint can interfere with t' movement. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' landin' gear on my kit was very free movin' before painting, me bucko, but sticks a bit now that t' paint is on. I'll probably sand them down and repaint before flyin' again, me bucko, but it's goin' t' be a fiddly job.

T' be fair, me bucko, matey, shiver me timbers, t' instructions do mention t' take care durin' paintin' and not t' gum up t' landin' legs, me hearties, arrr, ya bilge rat, but it's hard t' apply paint and nay build up additional thickness. Arrr!

As previously described, t' alignment of the main fins is due t' t' novel motor mount. Blimey! You really can't go wrong. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! The other fins are surface mounted, but because o' t' thickness o' t' fins, this is easily accomplished. Avast! T' instructions suggest mountin' them with CA and then addin' wood glue fillets, and this worked very well.

Makin' a D-Engine Spacer

A curious omission really. Begad! It wouldn't have added much t' t' cost t' include this in t' kit. Well, blow me down! But, matey, as suggested, it's easy enough t' make from a spent motor casing. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing

I used Halfords high-build primer on t' main fins. Ya scallywag! This helps t' fill the grain, and smooth out any imperfections in t' filler around t' landin' gear pods. Once dried and sanded I coated t' entire rocket with ordinary white primer t' create a consistent base coat. Begad! A little more light sandin' and then two coats o' Halfords Diamond White be applied. Well, blow me down!

T' provided water slide decals are very good. Really quite thin, but not thin enough t' be easily broken. They do have a slight tendency t' stretch though, possibly die t' t' large size. So you need t' take care, shiver me timbers, me hearties, particularly when applyin' t' large decals t' t' fins. Well, blow me down! Avast! One o' t' decals is o' t' self adhesive kinds. Begad! I don't normally like self adhesive decals, me hearties, shiver me timbers, arrr, as they are usually thick and curl up at t' edges. This one is relatively thin, matey, arrr, however, and it's difficult t' see how else t' metallic finish could have been achieved. Avast, me proud beauty! You do have t' be a bit careful though T' black pattern on mine has smudges in one area. Well, blow me down! Nay quite sure what I might have had on me fingers t' achieve that!

A final coat o' Halfords lacquer be applied t' help seal t' decals and protect from t' inevitable finger and scuff marks. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight

As mentioned above, there is a pre launch check list included in t' instruction manual. Well, blow me down! Begad! Obviously most o' us won't need that, but it's a great introduction for any newcomers to the hobby. Ahoy! Once t' Vega had been painted, I test-flew it at t' WRS launch on 10th April 2004. I had wanted t' wait until t' decals had been applied, matey, but I ran out o' time. Begad! Begad! T' weather conditions at t' launch were almost ideal for a first flight, as thar be very little in t' way o' wind, just a gentle breeze. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' recommended motors are Estes D12-3 and E9-4, arrr, but I see no reason why single use or RMS AP motors, with suitable delay, shiver me timbers, me hearties, could nay be substituted. Aye aye! Aye aye! For the first flight, me hearties, I chose t' stick with Estes. Avast! T' boost be really straight, with deployment at apogee. Arrr! T' descent was really quite gentle and stable. Begad! If it hadn't landed in a ploughed field, it might have stayed upright on its feet.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Q Modelin' can't be faulted for this kit. Ya scallywag! It's an excellent interpretation o' a classic design and builds into an impressive rocket. Well, blow me down! Avast! At £46.95, t' Vega can't be described as cheap, me bucko, me hearties, but very few corners have been cut here. Ya scallywag! T' combination o' top quality components, innovative design and comprehensive instruction manual, arrr, shiver me timbers, means that even a novice should have no trouble buildin' and flyin' this kit.

Overall Rating: 4½ out o' 5